As another in the series of “Burque Baristas“, I need to draw attention to one particular favorite, a spot that has pulled a decent shot of espresso for me, even throwing one out when it was not exactly to spec:

Ecco Espresso and Gelato

Now, I’m not saying that I’ve found the holy grail of espresso here in town, or that there even is one.  I give you as example that our bar of expectation is not yet high enough, a photo of a working “joe” having his morning beverage with rounded fingers barely able to grip the tiny cup and a portly wallet ready to throw a fiver on the counter:

…and then, let’s zoom out to take in the whole scene so that you can feel the seriousness that is espresso at 7:50am on a weekday in Manhattan:

Now, this is a place where it is all about the delivery of a premium product with lightning-fast service, perfection of skills, and style to boot.

Each and every one of the employees looked like they had been doing this for years, each wore a button down light blue shirt with a tie tucked in halfway so as to convey both formality and function as they darted up and down the 40′ space delivering hot brown beverages to customers who sipped and gulped them down standing up before heading to their train.

No to-go orders here, no chairs, no wifi, no music.  Just pure efficiency and a rigorous adherance to what they know to be holy and good:  ground fermented roasted berries assaulted with pressurized steam served in heated porcelain cups.

Capisce?

So I suppose I need to experience more Tom Collins in my life.

I am a huge fan of gin, mellow, strong, pungent, aromatic, everything.  But when I have a drink called simply, “The Collins” (at Nob Hill Bar & Grill), I hope to have some nice junipery flavor and a good kick from the alcohol.  Unfortunately, I got neither. 

Perhaps I’ll stick with a straight gin martini or just go for a more over-the-top drink like the the Ginger Refresher, with 3 kinds of ginger and bourbon.  Mmmm, ginger.

How to have a Saturday routine in 3 easy steps:

1.  Wake up a little earlier than you’d like, and see the morning light creeping over the world as you dress and head out the door.

2.  Meet up with friends or not, do a workout or not, and greet the lovely Duke City as it starts heating up and shimmering in the sunlight.

3.  Head to a local coffee shop with wifi, get some reading done over a cuppa joe, and just watch the rest of the patrons filter in and out, as they go through their own morning routines.

Next week, repeat.  That’s it.  Find comfort in your routine, look forward to it after a week at the office, as a pause between the hectic pace of weekdays and the purely lazy stay-at-home time of Sunday.

On a hot Saturday I load up with relleno burrito and bowl of green from The Chili Stop, and set off for home with Bob Dylan slinking his sounds over the stereo. All is bliss.

Except for the broken A/C, that is. Still…..